All religion rests on authority. For that matter, every academic discipline and every sphere of human inquiry rests on authority. Whether we realize it or not, we all give someone or something the last word. You may give it to your parents or to your culture or to your community or to your feelings or... Continue Reading

God did threaten judgment in the Old Covenant and so he has in the New Covenant: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31) because “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). This language comes right out of the Old Testament, because there are not two... Continue Reading

Scripture does NOT say we should never be angry. Nor does it say that all anger is wrong. God himself has righteous anger. There are times it is appropriate to be angry. If I saw a man beating a child it would be right for me to be angry at this wickedness and take action... Continue Reading

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” When he finished reading, I asked him a hypothetical question: “If this young woman was reading through Isaiah today and came to this verse, would she pause and... Continue Reading

So how does one preach with authority?  Certainly the preacher should pray that God would bestow authority upon him as he proclaims the gospel.  Yet are there principles he can follow so that when he preaches he just does not sound like he is just attempting to be authoritative, but actually preaches with authority?  I... Continue Reading

Irresistible, or efficacious, grace is not a dry and dusty old doctrine that was invented by curmudgeonly Calvinists. It is, in fact, a glorious biblical doctrine, for without the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit, we would all be without hope in this world and the next. When we come to a full understanding of... Continue Reading

In summary, while many other texts could be explored, these passages demonstrate that saving faith is sovereignly granted to the sinner and effectually applied within him. Therefore, we dare not call this initial faith in conversion a “work,” lest we attribute to ourselves what should truly be credited to God. As we reflect on our... Continue Reading

There are several problems with a pastor allowing numbers to be the measuring stick of our ministries, but here is the greatest: It does not appear to be how God evaluates our ministries. According to Hebrews 13:17, God is evaluating our ministries based on our faithfulness to “care for souls as those who will give... Continue Reading

Recently in our city a group of humanists and skeptics posted a billboard ad along a major freeway proclaiming, “Millions of Americans are living happily without religion.” Among other things, it begs the question, what difference does it make to be a Christian? Will those who become Christians live more happily? Are the benefits “worth... Continue Reading

We go beyond that properly Berean spirit that receives the word with all readiness and searches the Scriptures to find out whether the things being taught are so (Acts 17.11). Our chosen big cheese has only to press the ‘publish’ button or produce another book and – on the assumption that his (or, indeed, her)... Continue Reading